It doesn’t get any easier for beleaguered Workington boss Lee Andrews, with his struggling side facing title-chasing South Shields at Borough Park tomorrow.

He will go into another crucial fixture without Josh Calvert who was forced to hobble out of Saturday’s crushing defeat at Witton Albion, after just 12 minutes. The central-defender was substituted after a long-standing hamstring problem left him in some discomfort.

Sam Smith also sustained another knock on his troublesome ankle but is expected to play against second-placed Shields in the re-arranged Evo-Stik Premier Division encounter.

Reds go into the match hoping to avoid a seventh successive defeat on home soil knowing that their season depends on results elsewhere with survival out of their control.

A desperate situation deteriorated on Saturday following the 2-0 reverse at Wincham Park, leaving Reds eight points from safety.

A disconsolate Andrews refused to throw in the towel after their twenty second defeat of a depressing season saying: “It was a disappointing afternoon with two poor goals conceded and probably not enough fight and spirit going forward.”

“But, with five games to go, we have no alternative but to battle on and the players have to keep fighting until it is mathematically impossible for us to stay in this division.”

South Shields, who inflicted a 4-1 defeat upon Reds in the north east in December, remain a point behind leaders, Farsley Celtic.

Reds are still anchored to the foot of the revised Premier Division table, four points behind Bamber Bridge but now seven adrift of Mickleover Sports who followed up their Borough Park win with a notable 3-2 success at Nantwich.

After tomorrow’s clash against South Shields (7.45pm), Reds host play-off hopefuls Gainsborough on Saturday.